Indrayan Phal, with many common names including colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber, desert gourd, egusi, vine of Sodom, or wild gourd, is a desert viny plant native to the Mediterranean Basin and Asia, especially Turkey (especially in regions such as Izmir), and Nubian.
Perennial trailing herbs with somewhat woody tuberous root; stems shortly hairy when young becoming scabrid. Tendrils simple, rarely bifid, slender, glabrous. Leas alternate, elongate-ovate in outline, 10-60 (-110) mm long, 8-55 (-66) mm broad, distinctly scabrid-hairy beneath, smooth except on the nerves above, palmately deeply 3-5-lobed, ultimate lobes pinnately lobulate with central lobe longest, long-ovate in outline; petiole rather densely rough-hairy; protracts lanceolate-elliptic, 4-5 mm long and c. l. 5 mm broad, caducous. Indrayan Phal
Citrullus colocynthis L. is a desert plant, distributed in different parts of the world from Asia to Europe, used traditionally as a purgative and analgesic. It is also popular in PM for its anti diabetic effects. The efficacy of C. colocynthis on diabetes mellitus and its complications is evaluated in multiple studies. Forty seven animal studies and six clinical trials on C. colocynthis and diabetes are reviewed in a separate chapter. These studies showed that C. colocynthis can significantly improve fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and lipids of patient.
Indrayan Phal Benefits:
Indrayan Phal is used to treat diabetes, since it may be able to induce insulin secretion from the pancreas after supplementation, while reducing blood glucose and improving lipid levels.
Preliminary evidence suggests a topical application of Bitter Apple may stimulate hair growth, with an effect comparable to finasteride, a male pattern baldness drug. More evidence is needed to confirm this effect.
Even low doses (100mg, taken three times) of Citrullus colocynthis can cause diarrhea, while higher doses (1,500 mg) can cause colonic inflammation and rectal bleeding. These side-effects stop once supplementation is ceased.
Since the bioactive compounds in Bitter Apple are still unknown, and even low-dose supplementation is associated with intestinal side-effects, Citrullus colocynthis is not recommended for oral supplementation.
Indrayan Phal was reported in multiple ethno pharmacologic studies from different part of the world as a traditional remedy for a variety of diseases including gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory disorders also, diabetes mellitus.
